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But: if the evil in men is involuntary, if their own will has
not made them what they are, how can we either blame wrong-doers
or even reproach their victims with suffering through their own
fault?
If there is a Necessity, bringing about human wickedness either
by force of the celestial movement or by a rigorous sequence set
up by the First Cause, is not the evil a thin rooted in Nature?
And if thus the Reason-Principle of the universe is the creator
of evil, surely all is injustice?
No: Men are no doubt involuntary sinners in the sense that they
do not actually desire to sin; but this does not alter the fact
that wrongdoers, of their own choice, are, themselves, the
agents; it is because they themselves act that the sin is in
their own; if they were not agents they could not sin.
The Necessity [held to underlie human wickedness] is not an outer
force [actually compelling the individual], but exists only in
the sense of a universal relationship.
Nor is the force of the celestial Movement such as to leave us
powerless: if the universe were something outside and apart from
us it would stand as its makers willed so that, once the gods had
done their part, no man, however impious, could introduce
anything contrary to their intention. But, as things are,
efficient act does come from men: given the starting Principle,
the secondary line, no doubt, is inevitably completed; but each
and every principle contributes towards the sequence. Now Men are
Principles, or, at least, they are moved by their characteristic
nature towards all that is good, and that nature is a Principle,
a freely acting cause.
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